The head of the Tenerife Island Government, Rosa Dávila, revealed on Thursday that the institution plans to kick off the construction of the southern train system with the San Isidro-Adeje route, with an estimated cost nearing 800 million euros.
This declaration was made during a press briefing alongside the Minister of the Presidency, Administration, Public Service, Territorial Planning, and Historical Heritage, José Miguel Ruano, who stressed that enhancing the railway infrastructure of the island is a “critical goal.”
Dávila specified that the technical blueprints need to be updated after a four-year period of stagnation under the PSOE-CS Government. In addition, the environmental impact assessments have expired, necessitating amendments to the Tenerife Island Development Plan (PIOT), which will span at least a year.
If the project secures the required funding and receives technical and legal approvals, the construction is estimated to take around four years to complete.
The president highlighted the “full support” from the Transportation Ministry for the proposals put forth by Tenerife and Gran Canaria. She is optimistic about obtaining the necessary funds, citing that the total cost of 4,000 million euros for the projects on the two principal islands is not a significant amount for the national network.
She noted that the endeavour aligns with the EU’s decarbonization goals, with substantial funds available, complemented by contributions from the central and regional governments, as well as the Tenerife Island Government through Metrotenerife.
Dávila pointed out that the San Isidro-Adeje route was chosen due to its high daily ridership of half a million passengers, with 93% being residents. The area encompasses an industrial zone, airport, seaport, hospital, and major employment hubs.
Notably, this railway section would rank as the second most frequented route in terms of passenger volume per kilometer, trailing just behind the Madrid suburban train network.
She stressed that the railway scheme is both economically viable and environmentally beneficial, offering a feasible solution to the mobility challenges faced by the island. Dávila expressed disappointment that the ministry had no interaction with the Tenerife Island Government over the past four years.
THE NORTHERN RAIL PROJECT, BEING DEVELOPED LESS AGGRESSIVELY
Information about the northern railway plan was also submitted to the ministry, though it was admitted that these proposals are not as advanced. The authorities are exploring alternative options that are less intrusive to the landscape, such as a ‘tram-train’ system that could potentially extend up to El Sauzal, operating at a slower pace compared to the southern railway.
Ruano emphasised that the key focus now is to secure the ministry’s commitment to allocate the required finances. Subsequently, efforts will commence to update all project details, potentially integrating Tenerife into the national rail network, and modifying the PIOT to incorporate road infrastructures.
The joint task force, consisting of the deputy director of Railways, the technical unit from the General Directorate of Transport, the Gran Canaria Minister of Mobility Teodoro Sosa, and the Ministers of Mobility and Strategic Planning of the Tenerife Island Government, Eulalia García and José Miguel Ruano respectively, is scheduled to convene for their inaugural meeting prior to the conclusion of April.
